The luxury->ke505 truck market is alive and well, and that’s especially obvious when blinded by the shimmering chrome grille of the new 2016 Ram Trucks->ke4211 Laramie Limited trim level. It may be a rugged truck underneath, but it lacks strength in subtlety. In fact, the new trim level includes chrome accents along the rocker panels on the doors, the side steps, mirror caps, door handles, and 20-inch wheels. For those who are either blind or car ignorant, the designers threw on a massive R-A-M badge along the tailgate. No mistaken identity here.

The upscale bling continues inside the truck as well, with real wood accents, French stitching on the authentic leather with accent piping on the seats, and a long list of standard equipment like the 8.4-inch Uconnect infotainment system.

Though the mechanics are all the same, the new trim level brings a newness to the Ram Truck lineup. The Laramie Limited is offered across the non-commercial lineup, meaning well-off cowboys can order a 1500, or the Heavy Duty 2500 and 3500 series Ram with the luxury and visual updates.

UPDATE 06/09/2015: Ram has officially announced pricing for the 2016 Ram 1500 Laramie Limited. The trim level’s starting price begins at $50,675 and grows depending on powertrain configurations. Continue reading for the full pricing list.

Click past the jump to read more about the 2016 Ram Laramie Limited.

2016 Ram Laramie Limited

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2016 Ram Laramie Limited
  • Engine/Motor: V6
  • Horsepower: 240 @ 3600
  • Torque: 420 @ 2000
  • Transmission: eight-speed auto
Pros
Cons

Exterior

The outside is where the most obvious changes have occurred. The new grille takes after the Ram Rebel truck that debuted at the North American International Auto Show->ke222 last month, though with a different slot pattern and finish. This marks a big departure from the classic crosshair grille that Ram – and before that, Dodge – trucks have carried. Besides the updated grille, the remaining bodywork remains the same.

The tailgate does get a big change, however, with the RAM block lettering stretching across its center. For those owners planning to remove the lettering, there’s no such luck. The metal under the lettering is also raised. Perhaps just the bare steel would look less gaudy, but until someone tries it, you’d better get used to the look. Perhaps this is Ram’s way to teach the general public that “Dodge” is no long in its name.

Exterior Dimensions

Wheelbase

120.5 Inches

Track, Front

68.0 Inches

Track, Rear

67.5 Inches

Overall Length

209.0 Inches

Overall Width

79.4 Inches

Overall Height

74.6 Inches


Interior

The interior has been updated, though with a slight touch more discretion. The diggs take after the current Limited trim level, though a few updates bring a level of uniqueness to the Laramie Limited trim level. An all-black cabin is covered in leather but is accented in Graystone leather piping along the seats, giving them an attractive outline. The seatback pockets are given the Longhorn treatment with the leather flaps. Unique buckles change up the appearance.

The real wood accents are made from Black Argento. The accent on the steering wheel receives a thick coat of gloss to protect it while the remaining trim is left uncovered.

The gauge cluster is also updated and features a black background with Liquid Graphite-faced gauges accented by Liquid Chrome rings. Ram says the design is inspired from modish watches. Interior accent lighting brings an upscale ambiance at night. LED lights in the door handles, foot wells, and lower map pockets add that luxury car feel.

Drivetrain

The Ram 1500 Laramie Limited has two engine options: the standard 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 and the optional 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V-6. Both offer great amounts of power, but excels at different things. The HEMI is the performer of the pair, putting down 395 horsepower and 410 pound-feet of torque. The EcoDiesel on the other hand, offers up 240 horses and a respectable 420 pound-feet of torque while earning an EPA-estimated 28 mpg highway, yet still being able to two upwards of 7,900 pounds.

Both engines are mated to the ZF-sourced eight-speed automatic and can be had in both 2WD and 4WD.

Ram has not specified which engines will be offered in the Heavy Duty versions of the Laramie Limited, though it’s expected all three of its available engines will be on the table. That includes the 5.7-liter HEMI V-8, the larger 6.4-liter HEMI V-8, and the mac daddy of them all, the 6.7-liter Cummins inline six-cylinder turbodiesel.

Drivetrain Specifications

3.0-LITER ECODIESEL V-6

5.7-LITER HEMI® V-8

Type and Description

60-degree V-type, liquid-cooled

90-degree V-8, liquid-cooled

Displacement

182 cu. in. (2988 cu. cm)

345 cu. in. (5,654 cu. cm)

Bore x Stroke

3.27 x 3.60 (83 x 92)

3.92 x 3.58 (99.5 x 90.9)

Valve System

Chain-driven DOHC, 24 valves

Variable-cam timing, pushrod-operated overhead valves, 16 valves,

hydraulic lifters with roller followers

Fuel Injection

Common-rail, 2000 bar, Solenoid Injectors

Sequential, multiport, electronic, returnless

Construction

Cast-iron block, aluminum alloy heads

Deep-skirt cast-iron block with cross-bolted main bearing caps, aluminum

alloy heads with hemispherical combustion chambers

Compression Ratio

16.5:1

10.5:1

Power (SAE net)

240 HP @ 3,600 RPM

395 HP @ 5,600 RPM

Torque (SAE net)

420 LB-FT @ 2,000 RPM

410 LB-FT @ 3,950 RPM


Prices

Pricing for the 2016 Ram 1500 Laramie Limited starts at $50,675, or $1,245 more than the 2015 Laramie Limited model. Ram is offering the 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 as the standard engine and the 3.0-liter EcoDiesel as the optional mill in this range-topping trim level. Both engines will be available with either two- or four-wheel drive. Simply put, there are four configurations for the 2016 Laramie Limited. An additional $1,195 destination charge will be added to each price listed below.

Powertrain Configuration

Price

1500 Laramie Limited 4x2 Crew Cab 5.7-liter HEMI V-8

$50,675

1500 Laramie Limited 4x2 Crew Cab 3.0-liter EcoDiesel

$53,795

1500 Laramie Limited 4x4 Crew Cab 5.7-liter HEMI V-8

$54,180

1500 Laramie Limited 4x4 Crew Cab 3.0-liter EcoDiesel

$57,300


Competition

GMC Sierra Denali

General Motors doesn’t disappoint in the luxury truck category. The Denali trim available on the GMC Sierra 1500 and HD series offers near Cadillac Escalade levels of luxury and refinement, complete with high quality materials, wood accents, plenty of technology, and GM’s Magnetic Ride Control.

GMC offers three available engines in its truck: the powerful 6.2-liter EcoTec3 V-8 that’s basically the same LT1 found in the Corvette, the aging 6.0-liter V-8, and the mighty 6.6-liter Duramax V-8 turbodiesel.

Prices for the 1500 starts at $50,200 while the HD series starts at $52,340.

Ford F-Series Platinum

Like the Denali trim line, the Platinum is offered on both the F-150 and the Super Duty trucks. The interior comes awash in yards of rich leather with French stitching, wood accents, chrome trim pieces, and a host of in-dash technology such as SYNC and MyFord Touch. Though Ford offers more than one luxury trim level, the Platinum is the swankiest and avoids the western motif of the King Ranch.

The F-Series has four engines available with the Platinum trim level. The F-150 gets either the 5.0-liter V-8 or the 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6. The F-250 and F-350 offers the 6.2-liter V-8 and the 6.7-liter Power Stroke V-8 turbodiesel.

Prices start at $50,960 for the F-150 and $54,970 for the F-250.

Conclusion

Luxury trucks are kind of an ironic thing, but these days they have taken over the market. It’s now the boss or foreman than runs around in the $50,000 trucks keeping the business running while employees uses Tradesman or SLT trim-level trucks to do the heavy lifting. That affords the boss man the ability to hit the dirt or pull heavy loads while still rivaling luxury sedans for those times off the job site.

Regardless of who buys the truck or how it’s used, the 2016 Ram Laramie Limited offers unparalleled luxury, capability, and unmistakable bling.